Valve for low-down flush tanks



March 9 1926.

Filed June 18. 1924 A TTORNEY Patented 9,

ICE.

ARNOLD M. BEHBER, OF NEW YORK, N. 'Y.

VALVE FOR LOW-DOWN FLUSH TANKS.

Application filed June 18, 1924. Serial No. 720,746.

Heretotore in valves for low down flush tanks the construction has beensuch that the properfiushing of the bowl has been a serious problemowing to the inability of the workman to so set the different portionsof the valve, when installing it in the tank, as to ensure the propertiming in the seating of the buoyant valve block with relation to thedischarge port, as well as to Structural characteristics in the valvemechanism itself resulting in the frequent improper. seating of thevalve and the continued flow of water from the tank while the fillingvalve is open, causing objectionable noises and wastage of water. Inmany instances 1n order to avoid such objectionable features of thevalve mechanism for low down flush tanks, the use of such tanks isdispensed with, and the more inaccessible but 'more reliable high uptanks are used in their stead since with these high up tanks,,it ispossible to use a siphon discharge by reason of the increased fall ofthe water when flushing the bowl, which valve is more reliable and moresilent, than the ordinary valves used in low down flush tanks.

A valve constructed in accordance with my present invention is soconstructed that a workman is not required to adjust any part of themechanism when installing it in a tank, the relation of these partsbeing determined during the assembling of the mechanism in the factory,and being so constructed and propmrtioned as to be suitable for use inany tank, irrespective of the dimensions 01' capacity of the tank. Infact the construction is such that not only is adjustment of any of theparts unnecessary, but such adjustment is impossible, so that themechanism cannot be tampered with by a work'- man, nor so modified as toin any Way destroy the standard a j stmen determ ned while assemblingthe mechanism in the factory.

The stem of the buoyant valve is so mounted as to always center saidvalve block wth relation to the outlet port and. to prevent any movementthereof except axially of said port. The bearings for said stem are soconstructed and arranged as to thus define the movements of the valveblock and at the same time, afford a minimum of bearing surface for thevalve stem and reduce to -a minimum, likelihood of the binding of saidstem.

The member having the bearings therein issupported at a fixed distancefrom the fitting having the outlet port therein, so that when the valveis tripped, the buoyant valve block will of necessity pass without therange of the suction within the tank "about the discharge port for asuflicient interval to prevent the premature seating of the of thissuction only after a considerable volume of water within the tank hasflowed through the outlet and when the eii'ect'ot the suction has been,modified owing to the isiazae block, said block coming Within theinfluence I factthat the valve block is supported on the surface of thewater remaining within the tank. In this manner a sufliciently slowclosing-of the valve is assured to cause a substantially complete rapidemptying of the tank with each actuation of the valve.

The manner of supporting the bearing fitting for the valve block is suchthat the overflow pipe may be made of hard vulcanized rubber, ifdesired, there beinga fairly free sliding fit between this fitting andsaid pipe so that the pipe cannot be used to change the normal settingof the bearing fitting and yet will resist any attempts to changethis'setting by bending the standard supporting this fitting.

The various parts of the valve mechanism are made of non-corrosive metalsuch bronze or Monel metal, thusensuring not 'non-adjustably supportedfrom said standalined narrow bearings '5 receive the valve stem m ard,said bearing fitting having a plurality of spaced ahned narrow bearingstherein in axial alinelnent with said port, and means thereon encirclingbut unconnected with said overflow pip-e, a valve stenr slidably mountedin said bearings, a buoyant valve carried by said stem, andactuatingineans for said stem; and in such other novel features ofconstruction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth anddescribed, and more particularly pointed out in the claims heretoappended. 7 V

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing,which is a perspective view of a tank having therein a valve inechanisniei'nbodying the invention, a represents the tank proper, Z) the covertherefor, c a valve controlled filling mechanisnr for the tanlr, and Zthe ordinary float, actuating the valve for said filling mechanism. lhisconstruction and arrangement is coi'nn'ion to many kinds of flu-shtanks, and forms no part of my present invention.

The valve mechanism mounted within this tanli consists of a fittingc'having an outlet port at f and an exteriorly screw-threa ded nipple atg for, making the union with the bowl. and at ditierent radii of theport f, one of tiese fittings as of having an opening therethroughcommunicating with the nipple g7 and having secured thereto the usualoverflow pipe h preferably made of hard vulcanized rubber. o r

Secured to the other extension c is a standard i parallel withthe axisof the port f, and of a height to permit the buoyant valve block whenunseated by the valve actuating mechanism to rise in the inter to aheight whichwill bring it without the suction created about and abovethe port 7,

until the valve block is brought close to said fitting 0 as a result ofthe rapid lowering the level of the water in the tank. The fitting 0 ispreferably made of bronze, as is also the standard i, which ispreferably formed of a solid rod. I Supported from the standardi IS abearinn; fittin i havin an interiorlv screw .1 l b L t: l

threaded socket ;i' adapted to receive the screw'tln'eacled end if ofthe standard 5. The fitting j is cored out centrally thereot as shown inthe drawing. to provide two adapted l.) ar the buoyant "both bearingsval 'e block 12 The centers 7.': 7t:' are alincd with the axis of theport f, T the spacing apart of these hearings not only having the effectof reducing'v the bearingsurface for, the stein mg bi engaging: saidstenrat widely diverging points so to p l e y meal lefi-vtion effthe'stem,

The fitting has two extensions 6" and limit the inovcn'ient of the valveblock a to a path in vertical alinement with the port 7. By thisconstruction the valve block is always accurately centered with relationto the port 7', and a positive accurate seating thereof is assured aftereach actuation of the valve.

In the event of wear upon the valve black n, which is the only portionof the mechanism which is subject to material wear even after longcontinued use, repairs may be effected by removing this valve lock fromsaid stein and'substituting a new valve block therefor.

The valve block a is preferably made of softvulcanized rubber, althoughother ni-..- terial's may beu'sed, and the stem, m is preferably made ofMonel or other non-corrosive metal. The fitting is preferably made ofbronze. I n v The standard '2' is secured to the extension 6 in thefactory, and the fitting j is also secured to said standard in thefactory, thcseparts being: so secured that it is impossible for aworkman to move the fitting jtoward the fitting e.

To prevent the accidental or intentional bending of the standard bypressure applied to the fitting y, at a point remote from said'staiida'rch I provide said fitting; with two narrow collars 0-0 adapted toencircle the overflow pipe/t, no means, however, being provided by whichsaid collars are secured to the said pipe. in any manner whatsoever,thus avoiding likelihood of the crushing of the pipe by an impropersetting of anadjustable member for securing said fitting to. said pipe.

By spacing the collars apart as shown and described, said collars mayhave a loose lit witlrthe overflow pipe and still act to prevent anybendingof the'standard ii in a ma nner to throw the bearings Zc.7.: outof alin'einent with the axis ofthe port 7". This manner of utilizing theoverliow pipe as a stay for ensuring the proper position ingot thefitting'j, also facilitates the assembling of the valve1nechanism,'since the said pipe may be slipped through the collars tweenthe lowermost hearing; it" and the portf. i

The actuating means for the ralve is shown as the ordinary lever andhandle hani'sni [7.

The operation of the herein d rihe-al niechanislnis substantially asfolloi'vs.-- illlh'en the lever mechanism-g) actuated. the buoyant valveblock it is raised from its seat upon thel'lttin'gr o by means of itsstem myrtle rlglltllnt ll 1t to an. extei'it which ivlllerther eauseittQ bi brought close to the bearing 72 by the action of the lever 49, oras a result of its floating in the water in the tank. In either instanceit will be initially moved away from the fitting e sufficiently to bringit without the range of the suction caused by the water flowing throughthe port communicating with the nipple g,

and thus )revent its bein 'rematurel' seatseat formed on the fitting e,the suction below the valve retaining the block upon the seat. v

The spacingof the bearings /c7c" one above the other in verticalalinement, will permit that tree sliding fit between the stem m and thefitting necessary to the free movement of the valve block, while at thesame time preventing any material side cleflection oi": the block or thestem, or any frictional binding of the latter.

The use of collars 0 encircling the overflow pipe h, but notbeingsecured thereto in any way,serves effectively to preserve theproper alinement of the bearings lz--7c with the axis of the dischargeport and of the valve block a, and prevent any bending of the standardiby a workman when installing the valve in a tank; since a downwardpressure upon the fitting j adjacent the collars 00 will cause the uppercollar to bind upon the right side of the overflow pipe and the lowercollar to bind upon the left side of said pipe. An upward pressure uponsaid fitting willreverse the binding of these collars. By thus limitingthe move ment which may be imparted to the fitting 7', the elasticityinherent to the standard 2' can be depended upon to restore the fittingj to its normal horizontal position even though pressure may have beenapplied therein in the manner described, since the quantity of movementof the standard will not be such as to strain it beyond its elasticlimit.

By this construction, the desired permanency in relation to differentparts is secured, and the overflow pipe may be made of hard rubber,since under no circumstances can it be subjected to crushing stresses.In fact in the embodiment of the invention shown, the fitting j issupported entirely by the standard 6.

The few number or parts, and their construction, permits the valve to bemade of s si d narrativev meat wh ch. will the same reliability inaction.

ensure ease and certainty in its operation over a long period of use,and yet the cost of production of such a valve is materially less thanvalves on the market not having None of the parts entering into thevalve can become disarranged either when installing or While in use, andunder no circumstances can the valve stem m be so bound, or the valveblock a become so deflected as to prevent a proper seating of the valvewhen the maximum volume of water within the tank, as determined by thesetting of the fioat cl, has beendischarged through the port in thefitting e.

The positioning of the extensions 0' and e at; diametrically oppositepoints of the valve eat shown in the drawings, is merely matter ofconvenience for reducing the .vidth ot the fitting e and affording amplespace for the stem of the float (Z; If desired, one'of these extensionsmay be placed toward either side of said valve without varying theoperative effects secured in preventing not only abending of thestandard '2 but any such rotary movement of the fitting or bridge jabout said standard as will move the axis of the bearings /c7c out ofalmement with the axis of the valve seat.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent, is

- i 1.. A valve'for low down flush tanks embodying therein a fittinghaving a discharge port therethrough, a nipple extending from,

and extensions upon diiierent radii of, said port, one of saidextensions having an opening extending therethrough and communicatingwith said nipple, an overflow pipe carried by said last named extension,a standard secured to said other extension, a hearing fitting, meanswhereby said bearing fitting is non adjustably supported from saidstandard, said bearing fitting having a plurality of spaced alinednarrow bearings therein in axial alinement with said'port, and meansthereon encircling but unconnected with said overflow pipe, a valve stemslidably mounted in said bearings, abuoy-V ing means for said stein.

A valve for low down flush tanks embodying therein a fitting having adischarge port therethrough, a nipple extending from,

and extensions upon different radii of, said 7 ant valve carried by saidstem, and actnattherein in axial alinement with said port, and spacednarrow collars thereon encircling said overfiow pipe but unconnectedtherewith, whereby bending of said standard or lateral deflection ofsaidbearing fitting is prevented and said pipe is relieved from anycrushing stresses, a valve stem slidably mounted in said bearings, abuoyant valve carried by said stem, and actuating means for said sten.

3. A valve for low down fiush tanks embodying therein a fitting having adischarge port therethrough, a nipple extending from, and extensionsupon Opposite sides of, said port, said extensions being diametricallyopposite each other, and one of said extensions having an openingextending therethrough and communicatii'ig with said nipe ple, anoverflow pipe carried by said last named extension, a solid metallicstandard secured to the other extension, a bearing fitting", meanswhereby said bearing fitting 1s non-adpistablysupported from saidstand-- ard said bearing fitting having a plurality of spaced alinednarrow bearings therein in axialalinement with'said port, means uponsaid bearing fitting co-operating but unconnected with said overflowpipe to preventsuch movement of said bearing fitting as would bring saidbearings out of alineinent with the axis oi said port, a valve stemslidably mounted in said bearings, a buoyant valve carried by said stem,and actuating means operative upon said stem, said fitting, saidstandard, said bearing fitting and said stem port, said extensions beingdiametrically opposite each other, and one of said extensions having anopening extending therethrough and communicating with said nipple, anoverflow pipe, carried by said last named extension, a solid metallicstandard secured to the other extension, a bearing fitting, meanswhereby sa d bearing fitting 1s nonadju;=st'a bly supported from saidstandard,

said bearing fitting havinga plurality of spaced alined narrow bearingstherein in axial alinement with said port, a plurality of verticallyspaced narrow collars upon said bearing fitting and encircling butunconnected with said overflow pipe to prevent.

such movement of said bearing fitting as would bring said bearings outof alinement with the axis of said port, a valve stem slidably mountedin said bearings, a buoyant valve carried by said stem, and actuatingmeans operative upon said stein, said fitting, said standard, saidbearing fittingand said stem all beingformed of substantiallynoncorrosive metal.

In witness whereof Ihave hereunto affixed my signature this l lth day ofJune, 192%.

ARNOLD M. BEER-ER,

